Geno says 30-win seasons are coming to an end | The Boneyard

Geno says 30-win seasons are coming to an end

Sluconn Husky said:
He's made it pretty clear he fears the post KLS/Collier/Stevens years.

Obviously, Walker and Coombs developing would make him feel better. And we'll see what CW and ONO look like next year.
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He’s not the only one that fears those years, lol. Keeping my fingers crossed for talented newcomers and quality player development as the years go on.
 
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cockhrnleghrn said:
You guys don't need to fear anything until Geno retires.
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And I hope it's not anytime soon. Seeing the long tenures of Boeheim and Krzyzewski at their respective schools gives me a eyelash glimpse of hope
 
As great a coach as Geno is, he is not God; he cannot create something out of nothing. Don't forget that UCONN has in fact had stretches of lean years; they were of course few and far between, but they existed.

I posted the following in another thread, but it seems equally relevant here:

"A major reason why UCONN has been able to sustain its dominance over such a long period of time is because, with a few exceptions, it has always been successful in attracting at least a PAIR of recruits year after year who later become elite players. However, after KLS and Pheesa in 2015-16, UCONN had failed to do so in 2016-17, and again does not seem likely to be able to achieve that in 2017-18. I think Geno is genuinely frustrated with the bench (except Z) because he can see a serious crisis looming 2 years down the road after KLS, Pheesa, and Z graduate, unless a couple of current benchers step-up their development NOW.

In a way, UCONN has been bailed out by transfers in the recent 2 years: by Nat in 2016-17 (yes, without Nat, I think UCONN would have lost a couple of games in the regular season), and by Z in 2017-18. I know we will have a great pair of recruits next season, but even if they fully live up to their HS rankings, they won't be able to fully compensate for the lack of significant further development in the 1916-18 classes."
 
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Bleed Blue-XY said:
He’s not the only one that fears those years, lol. Keeping my fingers crossed for talented newcomers and quality player development as the years go on.
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That's why 2 months ago I said I was nervous or concerned for the future of our program specifically two years from now and I got slaughtered and almost got my uconn fan card taken away.
I don't sound so stupid now eh.
 
JustinesGuy said:
That's why 2 months ago I said I was nervous or concerned for the future of our program specifically two years from now and I got slaughtered and almost got my uconn fan card taken away.
I don't sound so stupid now eh.
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I am right there with you. Next year probably won't be as good as this year, and in a year from now KLS, Collier, and Z are out of here leaving a team of Crystal Dangerfield and ????
 
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HoopsFan21 said:
I am right there with you. Next year probably won't be as good as this year, and in a year from now KLS, Collier, and Z are out of here leaving a team of Crystal Dangerfield and ????
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They'll have weaknesses next year on paper. But they should also have four national POY candidates. That's a good start. Walker, Coombs, and perhaps a freshmen surprise will likely be the x-factors. Three brutal regular season matchups could mean losses, but I wouldn't want to be the poor teams who have to face them in the tourney.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
He's made it pretty clear he fears the post KLS/Collier/Stevens years.

Obviously, Walker and Coombs developing would make him feel better. And we'll see what CW and ONO look like next year.
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Bench seem little changes since fall ! Troubling !
 
Mister2 said:
As great a coach as Geno is, he is not God; he cannot create something out of nothing. Don't forget that UCONN has in fact had stretches of lean years; they were of course few and far between, but they existed.."
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This made me chuckle a little. Almost all of Geno’s “lean years” are dream seasons for 99% of programs.

But I agree that outside of
Crystal, there isn’t much to write home about in the last two classes, if Stevens is discounted. I like Irwin, but she is what she is. Megan has easily had the weakest first year of all of our top recruits in the last 10 years. Crystal wasn’t fabulous last year, but she had decent glimmers. To be fair, MW has had a few bright spots and maybe she will blossom. it seems like the possibly most confident of the new kids, AEH, transferred. No surprises emerged and both Coombs and Gordon played in national all star games last year. I love this year’s team, but one thing is clear, the number of teams capable of beating us is growing. It might not happen this year, and our league definitely reduces the chances of losing league games. But we are darn spoiled.
 
Centerstream said:
Weren't some people saying the same things before and right after the Fla State game last season????
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I personally "was" mildly concerned for next year with Kia graduating and Walker not playing like a number 1 rated player. Nothing has changed 2 plus months later.

I'm still concerned for two years from with KLS and crew leaving.

Of course kids will get better and new comers will come and make there mark.

I'm still uneasy about things after this year.
We will miss Kia more than we know
 
Orangutan said:
He's just getting next year's coach of the year campaign started early. You have to make coaching #1-ranked recruits look difficult somehow.
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Kara Lawson said it best (possibly first, possibly only). "Geno does more with more."

Much of the coaching accolades are given to those who do more with less. Those are the folks garnering the COY awards. Don't get me wrong, getting more with less is a difficult and laudable accomplishment. But the real challenge is in making the best better. Moving the 50th percentile to the 60th percentile is a far simpler task than moving the 98th percentile to the 99 percentile.
 
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Of course when the 2019-2020 season rolls around UCONN won't be the only team with significant personnel losses. A 2019-2020 Huskies team doesn't have to be as good as the current Huskies. It just has to be better than the teams it faces in 2019-2020. By 2019-2020 who among the elite programs won't have lost significant pieces from current teams?
 
Between injuries and the struggle to develop a deeper bench, this season has weighed more heavily on Geno than most. There are times on the sideline, sitting on the bench, glasses off, rubbing his nose with his thumb and forefinger, when he looks considerably older than his 63 years.

Recruiting has gotten much tougher, defined more and more by key misses of top post players that would have continued UConn’s dominance for years to come. This is the 4th year in a row that at least one player transferred out, although Nat certainly gets a pass for last year.

Geno is a lot closer to the end of his career than the beginning. Who knows what’s going on in his head?
 
I've said before, I'm not worried about next year. KLS, Collier and Stevens as Sr's? With Dangerfield running the point. Those 4 and anyone of us have a decent shot at a NC.

Between Walker , Camara, Williams, ONO, Irwin, Coombs, Bent, Gordon (possibly Magbegor), I imagine Geno can find 2-3 players who can contribute.

2 years down the road? Who knows how the players will develop. But normally they tend to develop pretty well at UCONN. As long as UCONN is getting the talent, which they still seem to be doing.
But Dangerfield, Williams, Walker, Camara, ONO wouldn't be a bad starting 5 to think about.

Remember, towards the end of Jefferson's FR year, there were some on the BY who had their doubts she would ever be able to contribute meaningfully. And she become arguably the best UCONN PG ever.

So relax. Don't think too far down the road. Things will probably change drastically.
 
At some point, after Geno retires, UConn WBB will likely go the way of LaTech and Old Dominion. There will be no reason for recruits to come to Storrs when Geno and CD retire. Also, being in the AAC and not being in a P5 conference will really hurt recruiting. The end is coming, it's not a matter of "if" but "when".
 
CTBballfan243 said:
At some point, after Geno retires, UConn WBB will likely go the way of LaTech and Old Dominion. There will be no reason for recruits to come to Storrs when Geno and CD retire. Also, being in the AAC and not being in a P5 conference will really hurt recruiting. The end is coming, it's not a matter of "if" but "when".
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While you outline one possible scenario, I've started to consider another in my mind. Certainly whoever follows Geno will face an almost impossible task when it comes to duplicating his success. The names most commonly mentioned are Jen (congrats for securing her 1st invite to the Big Dance at GW) and Shea, who bleeds Husky Blue.

What if UConn decides to go a different route? They could still hire a UConn alum, but maybe one with a significant national profile. Names that come to mind are Sue Bird, DT and Maya. Bird and DT in particular are reaching the end of their pro careers. The other name that comes to mind is Rebecca Lobo. All of these ladies know the game, understand the requirements to be successful at UConn and they are revered in WBB.

Their notoriety might just enable UConn to continue to recruit top talent. What HS player wouldn't want to learn how to play the game from the very best?
 
JustinesGuy said:
I personally "was" mildly concerned for next year with Kia graduating and Walker not playing like a number 1 rated player. Nothing has changed 2 plus months later.

I'm still concerned for two years from with KLS and crew leaving.

Of course kids will get better and new comers will come and make there mark.

I'm still uneasy about things after this year.
We will miss Kia more than we know
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Agree with you Walker no way 1 rated player. So many better freshman players on WCBB teams. Geno may have screwed up on this one.
 
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